Inner guide for visible index systems



SPL 18, 1951 w..1. REDMOND ETAL 2,568,302

` INNER GUIDE FOR VISIBLE INDEX SYSTEMS rFiled Sepia.` 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 sHow/NG SUB- CLASS/FICA flo/V5 SUCH A5 SPE- c/F/c NAMES INVENTORS. william J Redmond 'Byawam'ayers L Sept. 18, 1951 w, J, REDMQND EAL 2,568,302

INNER GUIDE FOR VISIBLE INDEX SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q2 ze -5-1 Abest Frank R Sept. 18, 1951 w. J. REnMorgD ErAL 2,568,302

INNER GUIDE FOR VISIBLE INBEx SYSTEMS Filed sept. 15, 1942's s sheets-sheet s [ZZ I 3g 159 [433/ INVENToRs.

Patented Sept. 18, H1951 y GUIDE FOR VISIBLE INDEX SYSTEMS William J. Redmond, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Edward L. Sayers, Grin, Ga.

Application September 15, 1948, Serial No. 49,408

This invention relates to visible index'systems and particularly to `an improved inner guide therefor.

The majority of visible index systems cornprise:

a. Main guides bearing tabs indicating general classications, such as alphabetical'groups;

b. One or more inner guides indicating subclassications, such as specific names within the above-mentioned alphabetical groups (there is a separate inner guide for each main guide) and c. Individual record cards for each of the subclassiflcations listed on the corresponding inner guide. Y

The guides and cards will usually be disposed vertically, on edge, in a tray or drawer.

One specic example of a visible index system is that used for bank depositors accounts and it may be described as follows: First, there is a main guide carrying an upstanding tab marked, for example, Aa-Adf Just behind this rst main guide are one or more inner guidesveach carrying, on numbered lines, the names of depositors included in the Aa-Ad classification. Following each inner guide are a number of individual ledger cards, one for each depositor listed on the corresponding inner guide. Each card will have a numbered tab aligned with the like-numbered line on the inner guide bearing the corresponding depositors name. Similar combinations of main guides, inner guides and individual record cards throughout the entire range A through Z will complete the system.

A conventional inner guide comprises a sheet having numbered diagonal lines at or near one edge. Space is usually provided for a list of to names or so on each inner guide and these are typed or written directly thereon. Thus, in the conventional system, when it is necessary to take a name oil the guide or replace it by another, an entirely new guide must be prepared which involves retyping or rewriting the entire list of names. This is one of the weaknesses of conventional visible index systems in that much time is wasted in this repetitions preparation of new inner guides. Furthermore, the cost of using an entirely new guide, just to replace one name, is exorbitant in systems where such changes must be made at frequent intervals.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention resides in the provision of an inner guide for a visible index system in which the individual names or other sub-classifications may be renewed, replaced or re-arranged at will merely by re-typing one or more names on a slip of paper 3 Claims. (Cl. 129-16.7)

insertable in a viewing position on the inner guide, thereby avoiding the necessity of using an entirely new guide each time.

An important feature of the present invention is that individual formations such as slots may be provided for individual name-carrying slips or cards so that replacement of a single name involves merely replacement of a single slip or card carrying that name. The main part of theV inner guide of the present invention, therefore, may be re-used indefinitely.

Another important advantage of the improved guide is that colored, transparent strips may conveniently be placed in a particular slot, over the name card therein, to nag a particular item, as for example to indicate that a particular depositors account is overdrawn, or that a particular item is in short supply, etc.

Otherv objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a visible index system illustrating one embodiment of the improved inner guide;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the inner guide shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 3 taken along the line 4-4;

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention, shown in section, similarv to Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of Fig.'4 3l taken along the line 5 5;

Fig. 6 is a view of a sheet perforated to define a number of individual name slips or cards which may be used in connection with the improved inner guide;

Fig. '7 is a view, similar to Fig. 2 of a modiiied form of an inner guide according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional View of Fig. 7, taken along the line 8--8; and

Fig. 9 is a card, with space for a plurality of names, usable with the inner guide of Figs. 'I and 8.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a portion of a visible index system such as might be applied to a bank depositors ledger. The system includes a number of main guides designated A indicating depositors names broken down into main alphabetical classifications, Aa-Ad, Ae--Ak, A1, Am,

etc, Behind each main guide A is an inner guide bre or the'like havinga rhombic window Vabcd formed therein. On the rear surface is positioned a member 22 formed of sheet metal such asl aluminum or other preferably light-weight. material and having formed therein a plurality (in this case fteen) of individual, diagonal, aligned,

elongated recesses or formations 23 .for receiv- Y ing individual name cards 24, these formations being separated by walls 26 and enclosed at the" bottom by end walls 21. The back wall 28 of each recess or slot 23 is provided with an elongated slitv 29 for insertion of a tool such as a pin or paper-clip to facilitate removal of name slips or cards from the recesses. The card-carrying member 22 is positioned on the backside of the supporting sheet 2| with its open side facingforwardly, overlapping the rhombic window abcd on all four sides of the latter, and having its upperv edge preferably coinciding substantially with theupper edge of the sheet.

On .the forward surface of the sheet 2| is positioned a substantially rhombic-shaped transparent cover 3| preferably vcomprising a flexible plastics sheet such as polymerized methyl methacrylate (Lucite) or the like. It providesY a convenient means for holdingthe name-cards in their individual slots and at the same time keeping.; them clean and .in sight. For Yconvenience and economy, the sheet 2|, member 22 and .cover 3| are assembled in the relative positionsshown by rivet means 32 which are spaced marginally about the window abcd.

Thus, in the assembled inner guide, as shown,

individualA slot. formationsv or recesses; 23 having open top ends are provided for the. reception of individual cards or slips 24 bearing individual names or other appropriate indicia. Such slips may be conveniently made,l.for.example,vby typing.;or Writing. upon.a perforated' sheet, such'as generally designated 33 in Fig. 6, from which maybe .tornindividual".namefbearing slips :24. These; slipsVY arefthen inserted ina desired oneof the slots 23.

At .the 'bottom .of the :window abcd,; on .the

front surface, the individual. slots';23 are num-.

bered..1 to.15,.;as shown. vAs willbe seen by reference toFig.` 1 theindividual. depositors rec--n ord cards Cv are correspondingly numbered on tab portions 34 which are progressively staggered from. left to right toprovide foralignment of-.theicard numbers with the same numbers--on the corresponding inner guide B. Thus. to se-A lectraparticular. depositors record card, as for example M. J. Abrahams' in Fig..l, this is quickly done by noting the Ynumber 4 corresponding'to that vname and then selecting Yrecord card number 4 immediately following.

While the inner guide of the present invention has been-illustrated in connection withfa bank depositors ledger,it will beapparent that it-may` be usefully applied to a system of indexing in visible form,v records of any nature 'by straight systems involving straightv numerical,- straight alphabetical or by-combined alphabetical -and -numerical .classiiications,-as well as any othercvisible-index systemsl-using--names codes,-

sizes, dimensions, subjects, classications, locations, legal descriptions, cross-references and other classiilcation indicia. Furthermore. while I have illustrated an inner guide having fifteen recesses for name slips, any other number which is convenient or desirable may be employed. While the names or other sub-classifications are probably disposed diagonally on the inner guide as shown to facilitate reading them, as well as to provide ample room for long names, it may, in some cases, be desired to dispose the names vertically on the guide in order to include a maximum number across the guide.

'To flag a' particular name or sub-classificationso that it will stand out and attract the users attention, colored transparent strips such as designated 36 (Figs. 2 and 4) may be placed in the recesses infront of the name slip. This Ais usefulin a bank depositors ledger system for indicating an overdrawn account, for example, or in a production control system for indicating apart that maybe in short supply.

Fig; 4a illustrates a modification of the Iform`v of the invention shown in Fig. 4, and shows another means, besides the transparent cover sheet 3|, for holding the-individual name-carrying and flagging cardsA in their respective slots. In Fig. 4a the mounting sheet 2|a (corresponding to 2|) has mounted on one side thereof a. member 22a (correspondingto 22) formed withaI number of recesses 23a, each of which is adapted to receive a name-carrying card 24 and, where desired, a flagging card 36. The forward portions of each'formation is constricted to form a pairvr of vertical lips 31, spaced less than the width of a card, to hold thecards within said formations.

Another embodiment of the inventionis shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and is substantially .the same: as that shown-in Figs. 1,-2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 except that the card receiving member |22 is provided with a singlecard-receiving recess or pocket (instead of-a-plurality) and the card |24 is largeenough to contain a plurality of names (instead of a single name). useful in applications where it is desired to place all names on a single sheet and insert or remove themas a unit.

Thesheet |2| is formed with a windowabcclv adjacent its upper edge. On the back `side -.is

the metal or iber card receiving member |22 s having a `single card receiving-.pocketior Yforma-"- tion |23 formed thereinfor receiving a cardr|24 which in this case is rhombic-shaped butI may`v berectangular-shaped if desired.

Thecardv|24 is insertable intoV and removable fromithepocket in the direction of window edges adand bc. A single removal slit- |29 is'provided in member |22, elongated, as shown in the direction of movement of the card into and out ofand a transparent -cover mounted on-'the opposite -sideof--thewindow through which cardsin- This embodiment will bel said formations are visible, said member having an elongated slit formed to provide access to each of said formations to facilitate the removal of cards therefrom.

2. A guide for a visible index system compris ing a sheet with a Window formed therein; a card carrying member positioned on the rear surface of said sheet overlapping said window and having its upper edge substantially flush with the upper edge of the sheet, said member having a plurality of individually aligned, elonn gated, open-fronted recesses formed therein, each recess having an open end portion terminating substantially at the upper edge of said Sheet, a flat cover of flexible, transparent material positioned on the front surface of said sheet overlapping said Window, rivet means positioned marginally ofV said window and extending through said sheet, member, and cover to hold the parts assembled, said member having an elongated slit formed therein at each of said recesses to permit insertion of a tool for removing cards from said recesses.

3. A guide for a Visible index system comprising a sheet with a'window formed therein; a card carrying member positioned on the rear surface of said sheet in registration with said window and having its upper edge substantially flush with REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,150,034 Hub Aug. 17, 1915 1,448,323 Wood Mar. 13, 1923 FoRErGN PATENTS Number Country Date 187,804 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1922 340,669 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1931 70,919 Norway Apr. 5, 1944 

